that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: "Avert the legal penalties from the Muslims as much as possible, if he has a way out then leave him to his way, for if the Imam makes a mistake in forgiving it would be better than making mistake in punishment." (Using translation from Tirmidhī 1424)
"ادرءوا الحدود عن المسلمين ما استطعتم، فإن وجدتم للمسلم مخرجًا فخلوا سبيله، فإن الإمام لأن يُخطئ في العفو خيرٌ من أن يخطئ في العقوبِة" .